A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Miguel de Tucuman vs. Lima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Miguel de Tucuman or Lima?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between San Miguel de Tucuman and Lima can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: San Miguel de Tucuman or Lima?

San Miguel de Tucuman

The capital of the Tucuman Province in Argentina, San Miguel de Tucuman is the largest city in the country's northwest. The city is probably most well known as the sight where the Declaration of Independence from Spain took place on July 9, 1816. The location of this event, a colonial-style house called "Casa Historica" or "Casita de Tucuman", remains an important landmark in the city.

Lima

Lima, the capital city of Peru, is likely to be your point of entry for the country. Lima was founded in 1535 and was the seat of the Spanish rule for 300 years. It's a surprisingly modern city despite its rich history, but many beautiful churches and colonial architecture remain today. There are also large slum areas that highlight the poverty that exists in the city. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of about 8.5 million people, many of whom came from the Andes Mountains in search of work. Unfortunately the work opportunities are limited and the poverty is obvious as you arrive in Lima.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lima or San Miguel de Tucuman?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • San Miguel de Tucuman Prices
    Argentina Prices
    Lima Prices
    Peru Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    San Miguel de Tucuman $50
    Lima $95

The average daily cost (per person) in San Miguel de Tucuman is $50, while the average daily cost in Lima is $95. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Miguel de Tucuman and Lima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Miguel de Tucuman $37
    Lima $52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Miguel de Tucuman $74
    Lima $104
Compare Hotels in San Miguel de Tucuman and Lima

Looking for a hotel in San Miguel de Tucuman or Lima? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in San Miguel de Tucuman


Hotels in Lima


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: San Miguel de Tucuman Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Miguel de Tucuman $2.38
    Lima $6.06

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $5.73
  • Taxi Ride
    $5.73
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $4.30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lima APT-HTL (LIM) : $34
  • Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $16
  • Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
  • Transfer To Lima Airport: $20
  • Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
  • Round Trip Transfer from and to the Airport in Miraflores/Barranco/Sani : $33
  • QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
  • QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Miraflores to Lima Airport: $5.95
  • Private Transfers from/to Lima Airport (Price per Vehicle): $29
  • Private Transfer to Lima Airport (LIM): $13
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $201
  • Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $18

Is it cheaper to fly into San Miguel de Tucuman or Lima?

Prices for flights to both Lima and San Miguel de Tucuman change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    San Miguel de Tucuman $5.36
    Lima $32

Typical Food Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.59
  • Ice cream
    $3.73
  • Coffee
    $3.15
  • Donut
    $1.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.

  • Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $32
  • Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $40
  • Lima Food Tour - Prepare your Anticuchos and Pisco Sour : $48
  • #1 Reviewed Lima Cooking Class: $49
  • Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $55
  • Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
  • Peru’s Most Beloved Recipes Cooking Class: $58
  • Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
  • Lima Night: Cooking Experience with locals: $65
  • Peruvian Cooking Class, Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting: $65
  • Vegan Peruvian Food Cooking Class | Ceviche + Pisco Sour: $69
  • 4 iconic restaurants of Lima / 3-hour guided food tour: $69

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Miguel de Tucuman $25
    Lima $9.15

Tours and Activities in San Miguel de Tucuman

For San Miguel de Tucuman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Entrance ticket to Aerial Park, Zip Line and Palestra: $27
  • Yungas Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $71
  • Discover Tafí del Valle and Quilmes Ruins in a Day Tour: $110
  • Rio Hondo Hot Springs Full Day Tour from Tucuman: $110

Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:


  • Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)
    $17
  • Movie Tickets
    $2.44

Tours and Activities in Lima

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:

  • Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Tour From Lima (Private Group): $190
  • Cycling Tour Miraflores - Barranco - Chorrillos: $30
  • Lima bike and 5 Step Food Tasting Experience: $92
  • Private Classic City Tour Experience of Lima: $65
  • Private Stopover Tour of Lima from the Airport: $150
  • Sunset in Huacachina and Tacama: Private Tour from Lima: $220
  • #1 Full Day Tour From Paracas and Huacachina Oasis: $59
  • 1 Day Tour to Huacachina from Lima (Dunebuggy + Vineyards): $225
  • 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $279
  • 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Ballestas Island and Huacachina: $149
  • 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $149
  • 2 Days 1 Night Paracas Ica Tour from Lima: $150

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Miguel de Tucuman $7.99
    Lima $5.95

Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $7.71
  • Beer
    $4.30
  • Cocktail
    $3.44

Sample the Local Flavors in Lima

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:

  • Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $19
  • Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $30
  • Local Wine Tour : $55
  • From Paracas & Huacachina & Wine Tasting: $135
  • Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima : $138


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Miguel de Tucuman and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is San Miguel de Tucuman much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Miguel de Tucuman would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Miguel de Tucuman and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Lima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lima than you might in San Miguel de Tucuman.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Miguel de Tucuman Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Miguel de Tucuman or Lima?

Lima has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Miguel de Tucuman. When comparing the sizes of San Miguel de Tucuman and Lima, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.